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THE QUEST 

FOR THE 


EMPRESS 



ALBERT J. KLINCK 


THE 

Mbbcy press 

PUBLISHERS 
114 

FIFTH AVENUE 
NEW YORK 


Xon^on 


Montreal 



the library of 

CONGRESS, 

Two Cofiea Received 

SEP. 25 1901 

CopvRioH'^ entry 
CI.A 8S «.^XXo. N«. 

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C r « C ‘ ‘ , ‘ 

c‘ <'‘<<< ' c,Copynfe;l>t, V901, 

t. { ‘ < c ' ( t < * ' ' ‘ ‘ ‘ ^ 


by 

THE 


Bbbc^ lPrc00 


TO MY FRIEND 


C. Militant (Berber, /ID.S). 








CONTENTS 


CHAPTER PAGE 

I. “ For THE Empress’ Sake ! ” 7 

II. The Letter 13 

III. The Departure for Home 23 

IV. Nan 29 

V. Micky 34 

VI. The First Patient 42 

VII. The Empress 53 

VIII. Hortense 59 

IX. An Unexpected Meeting 67 

X. A Voice from the West 78 

XI. The Proposal 82 

XII. The Operation 88 

XIII. “God Bless Her” 90 



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THE QUEST FOR 

THE EMPRESS. 


CHAPTER 1. 

“ FOR THE empress" SAKE ! "" 

Hamilton was down upon his knees before 
the chiffonier searching for a collar-button. 
The room looked gloomy, but Hamilton had 
no time to raise the shades. He had not gone 
to bed until the wee sma" hours, had overslept 
in consequence, and three examinations were 
due on that day. Hamilton was just finishing 
a course in medicine at the University of Den- 
ver. He hailed from Buffalo, the city that 
holds up the reputation of the western part of 
New York State. 

In his dilemma he had already upset a neck- 
tie-case, and a gaudy array of bows, four-in- 
hands, and tecks lay scattered upon the floor. 
His collar and cuff box was poised delicately 
upon the edge of the chiffonier, and when he 

7 


8 The Quest for the Empress. 

bumped his head against the side the box 
calmly obeyed the law of gravitation. Ham- 
ilton obeyed no law, but said something under 
his breath, and by way of emphasis bumped his 
head the second time. 

A moment later some one rapped at the door 
vociferously. Hamilton was under the table 
just then, and the sound caused him to raise his 
head. The rear part of his cranium suffered 
this time, and the blow was more severe than 
the previous ones. But he had got beyond 
words. He rose to his feet, walked over to the 
sofa, and calmly sat down. 

The rap at the door was repeated. 

Come in,” he said, meekly. 

An urchin with tousled head strode into the 
room, and gave Hamilton a letter. 

It’s not time for the mail ? ” the latter 
gasped. 

The little fellow grinned. “ Yes, it is,” he 
drawled, and turned away. 

“ I say, Bulbo,” Hamilton called down the 
hallway after the receding figure, ‘‘ can you 
loan me a collar-button? ” 

But Bulbo had just turned into one of the 
other rooms, and Hamilton’s words were un- 
heard. 

With the letter in his hand, he went to the 
window and raised the shade. The handwrit- 
ing on the envelope caused a smile to flit across 
Jiis face, and sitting down upon the window- 


“ For the Empress’ Sake ! ” 9 

sill, he was soon absorbed in reading the con- 
tents. 

The letter increased in interest as he read 
on, and when he came to a certain portion of 
it he was completely lost .to the outside 
world. 

He was not conscious of any one’s presence 
until some one rapped him not altogether 
gently upon the shoulder. Then he raised his 
bewildered eyes. 

Why, Seymour,” he said, what’s the mat- 
ter?” 

The matter ! ” exclaimed the fellow at his 
side. “ What on earth are you doing? Don’t 
you know the day, the time of day, what de- 
pends on the day ? Hamilton, man alive, what 
ails you? What are you thinking about? 
Drop that infernal piece of paper, and dress 
yourself. Here’s your coat. Where’s your 
hat? What in thunder did you do with your 
other shoe last night? Of all the looking 
rooms ! It’s awfully hard for me to say it, but 
you haven’t been drinking, have you? You 
haven’t ” 

Hamilton was on his feet in an instant. 
'Hf that came from any one but you I’d knock 
the person down,” he exclaimed. “ Drinking? 
I drinking ? Look on the table, Seymour. 
I’ve been drinking those. I got a-going, and I 
couldn’t stop. What a nightmare those things 
have been to me. But now^ thank God, I’m. 


10 The Quest for the Empress. 


done with them. To the devil with text- 
books.” 

He began hurling them into the open grate. 
Seymour took him by the arm. You may 
have books to burn,” he said, but you haven’t 
time to smell the smoke now. Do collect your 
senses, man. This is the day upon which you 
try your finals. Everything depends upon to- 
day. Your future career depends upon its out- 
come. All your work for the past year will 
topple into ruins if you don’t hurry. They 
wait for no one at the University. It’s almost 
a matter of life and death to you.” 

Hamilton’s friend looked on hopelessly while 
the former proceeded to complete his toilet. 
The innocent shoe was jerked into place. Sey- 
mour had jammed Hamilton’s hat on his un- 
combed head, and was holding out his overcoat 
to him, when he noticed the absence of a band 
of glossy linen about Hamilton’s neck. 
‘^Where’s your collar?” he asked, forlornly. 

“ Can you loan me a collar-button? ” calmly 
asked Hamilton. 

Abel Seymour fumbled about in his pockets, 
but failed to discover the asked-for article. 

“ Put this around your neck,” he said, hand- 
ing Hamilton a bright silk handkerchief. 

But,” began Hamilton, what will they 
say to my going like that ? ” 

“ Oh,” and Seymour’s face was distorted 
with anxiety, tell them anything — that you've 


II 


“ For the Empress' Sake ! ” 

got a sore throat, or that your collars are all 
in the laundry, or that you forgot to wash 
your neck, or — Ham, Fve half a mind to punch 
you. What under the sun ails you? 

“Work, Abel, work,'' answered he, “that's 
all. If I had to do it over again I'd drown 
myself. I never labored so hard in my life. 
I'm almost done up. My ambition is about 
gone. I didn't get to bed until morning, and 
then I couldn't get to sleep. And when I got 
up I couldn't find that damned collar-button. 
How do I look now, Seymour? Is my hat on 
straight ? " 

“ You're all right," was the reply, and Sey- 
mour, after advising Hamilton to take a cup 
of coffee before starting, hurried out into the 
street on his way to see what he could do for 
his friend at the University. 

After he had gone Hamilton went to the 
mirror and surveyed himself. He shuddered 
at the reflection. “ It's no use," he said to 
himself, “ I must give it up. I simply can't 
go looking like this. They'd put me out — 
say I was intoxicated — drunk. And I haven't 
the ambition left to deny what they would 
say. If I did, how could they believe me? 
Ham, old fellow, you're done for. You never 
looked so rocky in your life." 

He dropped into a chair and began to fan 
himself with a whisk-broom. 

“ Yes," he mused, “ I'll stay at home and 


12 The Quest for the Empress. 

write to Gerald, telling him just how it was. 
He’ll feel dreadfully disappointed. All along 
I’ve been writing to him how I have been 
working, and that I expected to graduate with 
honors. And how he encouraged me! But 
for his kind words I would not have had the 
strength to do what I did. But it’s all up now. 
I wish Gerald were here. It would be so much 
easier to tell him by word of mouth. I know 

he would pity me. Gerald is But where 

is the letter I just got from him? What did 

he say about the — about the ” 

He made a lunge at the letter, which lay 
upon the floor before him. His nervous fin- 
gers drew forth the sheet of paper within; his 
eyes were soon poring over the written words. 
Beads of perspiration stood on his brow. His 
breath came quickly. 

I’ll do it anyway,” he exclaimed, rising 
and thrusting the letter into his pocket ; “ by 
Jove, I will! I’ll rush to the University, no 
matter how I look, or what they think of me. 
Ham, old fellow, the fires in you are rekindled. 
And through whom ? A woman ? I’ll try, yes, 
I’ll try, for the Empress’ sake ! ” 


The Letter. 


13 


CHAPTER 11. 

THE LETTER. 

'' Dear Chum : 

When you receive this you will be in the 
midst of your finals. In your last letter to me 
you told me how finely you were progressing. 
You don’t know how pleased I was to hear 
that. Keep it up, old fellow, keep it up ; you’ll 
never feel sorry for it. I know it’s hard work, 
but think how it paves the way for the future. 
When you get back here we’ll all feel proud 
of you. We’ll point you out to our friends, 
and speak of you as a rising young physician. 
And you are simply bound to rise. 

“ By the way. Ham, I met a young lady the 
other day who is deeply interested in you. She 
seems to have been keeping her eye on you for 
some time. She has a friend living in Denver, 
and has been kept acquainted with what you 
have done during the past year. She is quite 
ecstatic over your progress, speaks of you as a 
model in every particular. I have been think- 
ing the matter over and can come to but one 
conclusion — love. Yes, it must be that. 


14 The Quest for the Empress. 


“ I am under the strictest orders not to reveal 
her identity. She confided in me only because I 
too painted you so faultlessly. I at once saw 
she was becoming enthusiastic on the subject, 
and lured her on. She wanted to withdraw 
what she had said, but it was too late. It is all 
stamped indelibly on my memory. Some day 
I may be at liberty to tell you everything. 

There is now living somewhere in Europe 
a deposed Empress whose first name corres- 
ponds with that of this fair damsel. So if you 
wish to talk about her in your dreams, or com- 
pose sonnets in her honor, why speak of her as 
the ‘ Empress.’ It will answer the purpose 
just as well. 

And now, with three cheers for what you 
have already done, and three more for what 
you are going to do, I shall close. 

“ Yours, 

“ Gerald.” 


It was almost midnight, and Blair Hamil- 
ton sat with the letter in his hand. It was the 
third time he had read it. 

He was smiling now at the morning’s farce. 
It all came vividly back to him, but he set aside 
the seriousness that had permeated the whole. 
To three persons he felt extremely thankful 
for the day’s outcome. In the first place, Abel 
Seymour had proved his staunch friendship. 


The Letter. 


IS 


He and Hamilton were working for first hon- 
ors, and out of all the class he alone had taken 
the trouble to find out why Hamilton was ab- 
sent from the breakfast table that morning. 
And how he had worked over him! A thrill 
passed through Hamilton when he thought of 
the noble fellow. 

Then there was Gerald. He had all along 
been Hamilton’s pillar of fire. He had so 
often written: “You have put your hands 
to the plow; don’t turn back.’’ For the sake 
of showing how he appreciated Gerald’s kind- 
ness and common-sense advice, Hamilton went 
on plowing, regardless of ground and weather. 
It was wearisome work, uphill, steep, stony. 
Ahead of him Hamilton saw the golden apple 
hanging. Would he get it? Gerald made it 
possible for him. 

Then the Empress strode upon the scene. 
Hamilton was looking into the fire now, and 
he tried to picture her there ; but he had noth- 
ing with which to start. If Gerald had but told 
the color of her eyes, or the hue of her hair, 
whether short or tall, or even the size shoe she 
wore, he might mold out a divinity to his 
liking. But there was no nucleus, and Hamil- 
ton cast aside the idea of forming a mental pic- 
ture. Then he happened to think what Gerald 
had said about her name. Here was a point 
upon which to start. If it were Lily, or Pearl, 
or something like that, why, of course, she was 


i6 The Quest for the Empress. 

light, with blue eyes and golden hair. While if 
it were Hortense, or Beatrice, or Ruby, there 
was no doubt whatever about her being dark, 
black-eyed, raven-tressed. 

Taking up the letter again, he once more 
read the portion in question. “ * There is now 
living somewhere in Europe a deposed Em- 
press whose first name corresponds with that 
of this fair damsel.' " 

“ A deposed Empress,” he mused. “ Some- 
where in Europe. Jove, I have it — Josephine ! 

But That’s so, she’s not living. Empress 

Lilyj? Empress Pearl? Empress Beatrice? 
Empress Ruby? No, none of these sound 
right. Empress — Empress. Well, I never was 
so interested in royalty as I am at this moment. 
I’d do almost anything to find out, though. 
What an influence this unknown creature al- 
ready exercises over me! If it hadn’t been for 
her I wouldn’t have gone to the University 
this morning. I had resolved firmly not to. 
And if I hadn’t? If I hadn’t! Women are 
guilty of some good once in a while.” 

He soon dozed off. Various visions began 
to rise before him, and he was about to put 
forth his hand to grasp that of the Empress, 
when some one touched him upon the shoulder. 
He opened his eyes, and stared about vacantly. 
“ Perry, old fellow,” he said, drowsily, ‘‘ where 
did you come from ? ” 

Oh,” was the reply, I saw a light in 


The Letter. 


17 


your room, and I thought Fd drop in for a 
minute. You don’t know what you missed 
after you left us. We ” 

“ I do know,” said Hamilton, sternly, ris- 
ing and laying his hands upon the fellow’s 
shoulders. “ I can read it in your face. It 
must stop. Perry, do you understand me? I 
shall not warn you again. Ugh! You look 
positively hideous.” 

Hamilton walked away disgustedly. 

“ You know how it is when’ one gets out 
with the boys. Ham,” began Perry. “ You’ve 
simply got to do it or be called a guy. I didn’t 
take as much to-night as I have on former oc- 
casions.” 

“ Why didn’t you ? ” asked Hamilton. 
“ You should have done the job up brown. 
When you get home how are you going to 
conduct yourself? Perry, I’ve half a mind to 
trounce you.” 

“ Strike me, Ham,” said the other, vehe- 
mently, “ for God’s sake, do. The blow might 
do more for me than anything else. Strike 
me.” 

“ You deserve a blow that would send you 
to eternity.” 

After these words, Hamilton walked to the 
window and stood with his back toward 
Perry. The latter rose, shuffled half-way 
across the room, then said: 

Good night, Blair. I’m going.” 


i8 The Quest for the Empress. 

‘‘ No, youhe not,^^ quickly said Hamilton. 

You’re not going to leave this room.” 

Why not ? ” asked Perry. “ Don’t you 
trust me ? ” 

“ No.” 

Perry looked at his friend doggedly. He 
sank into a chair in a dark corner, and buried 
his face in his hands. 

For fifteen minutes or so no words were ex- 
changed between them. Hamilton was pacing 
up and down the room, his head lowered, his 
hands thrust deep into his trousers’ pockets. 
He had already used various methods with his 
friend, and to-night, knowing no other, he 
had resorted to harshness. Pie did not know 
exactly how Perry would take this, and was 
somewhat relieved when he saw him collapse 
completely. Hamilton wanted to make Perry 
feel small ; in this he had succeeded. 

‘‘ Perry,” he finally said, “ don’t be a fool. 
There’s my bed. Get into it. Before you 
leave this room I have something to say' to 
you. You are not fit to fully understand 
now. Sleep it off ; then I’ll once more put my 
hand to your plow.” 

After Ilamilton got into bed, he fell to mus- 
ing, and before dropping off to sleep, his last 
thought was : “ Why can’t Perry find an Em- 
press? It’s what he needs. By Jove ” 

But he could not remain awake another 
minute. 


The Letter. 


It was almost noon when they arose. To 
Hamilton, the night’s rest proved more refresh- 
ing than any he had had for months. The 
same may be said of Perry. 

“ How did you sleep ? ” Hamilton asked, 
drawing up the shades and admitting the 
bright morning sunshine. 

“ Oh,” was the reply, “ I slept well enough, 
only I don’t like to lie on anything like this.” 

He held up a collar-button.* 

“ That caused me more trouble than it did 
you,” said Hamilton, and he proceeded to ac- 
quaint Perry with the events of the morning 
before. He' deftly led up to the subject upon 
which he wished to talk with Perry. He men- 
tioned the Empress, then said, “ That’s what 
you want, old man — some nice, sensible girl 
to talk to you and occupy your mind. You 
don’t know what a woman can do in a case of 
your kind. Isn’t there some girl for whom 
you have a feeling of affection ? ” 

“ No, to be honest with you, Blair,” replied 
Perry, there isn’t. I don’t care much for — - 
for the sex.” 

“ Do you know what a woman did for me 
yesterday?” Hamilton’s eyes grew bright as 
he spoke. 

“Somebody in Denver?” quickly asked 
Perry. 

“ No, not in Denver,” said Hamilton, “ no- 
where near Denver. I don’t know where ex- 


20 The Quest for the Empress. 

actly myself, but — somewhere. I hope to find 
her soon.” 

Perry looked at his friend. Hamilton’s eyes 
were lowered, his forehead was wrinkled. 
Perry sat silent for a moment, then asked : 
‘•'What is she like?” 

“ She’s,” began Hamilton, “ she’s — why 

Well, how should I know? I have never 

seen her.” 

Perry gave a short whistle, looked about 
the room, and sitting more erect in his seat, 
said : 

“ If I wasn’t studying medicine. I’d feel 
•creepy. Ham. I didn’t think you’d believe 
in visions. You don’t know where she is; you 
never saw her; and yet she did something for 
you. What did she do, old man ? ” 

“ Some day I’ll tell you, not now,” answered 
Hamilton. “ She didn’t know she was doing 
anything for me either. But I mean to tell 
her when we meet.” 

Perry was becoming uneasier each moment. 
Hamilton’s present mood was both new and 
inexplicable to him. 

“ By the way. Perry,” he went on, “ do you 
happen to know the name of a deposed Em- 
press now living somewhere in Europe? ” 

“ Hadn’t you better lie down a while,” sug- 
gested Perry, his face wearing a troubled look. 
“ You’ve worked hard lately, you know. You 
need rest.” 


The Letter. 


21 


I never felt better in my life, Perry,” were 
Hamilton’s next words. “ I feel like doing 
a Spanish dance or something like it. Set your 
brains to working, old chap. A deposed Em- 
press — living — somewhere in Europe. I’d 
give half my wealth to know her name.” 

“ Blair Hamilton !” exclaimed Perry, “ this 
is too much. You don’t mean to say — to 
say ” 

‘‘To say what? ” 

“ That the woman who has done so much 
for you is an Empress ? ” 

“ Bless you, no,” laughingly responded 
Hamilton. “ I only wished to know the name 
of this deposed sovereign, because it is the 
same as that of the person about whom I was 
speaking to you.” 

“And you don’t even know her name?” 
gasped Perry. 

“ No.” 

The little word sent a chill through Hamil- 
ton’s friend. He had risen, and was now walk- 
ing restlessly back and forth. Suddenly halt- 
ing in front of Hamilton, he said : 

“ Say something rational. Ham, or — 
or ” 

“ One would think I was a lunatic, to hear 
you talk.” 

“ Well, if you’re not, you’re in a worse state 
than I was last evening.” 


22 The Quest for the Empress. 

“ I must acknowledge that I am intoxi- 
cated ” 

Perry fell into a chair, and ground his teeth. 
“ With curiosity,’’ completed Hamilton. 
“ Read that ; it will explain all.” 

Hamilton handed Perry the letter he had re- 
ceived the morning before. 


I 


The Departure for Home. 


23 


CHAPTER III. 

THE DEPARTURE FOR HOME. 

A WEEK later found Blair Hamilton board- 
ing a Wabash train for the East. They were 
all at the station to see him off — not one had 
failed him. Abel Seymour, who had done so 
much for Hamilton on that memorable morn- 
ing, was the last to shake hands with him. 
“ ril see you again, I hope. Ham,” he said, a 
slight tremor in his voice. “ We’ve been awk- 
wardly placed, but our dispositions were such 
that we remained friends through it all. You 
are a sterling chap. You fully deserve what 
you got. When you get home you’ll have 
something to tell. I wish I were going along 
to emphasize it.” 

Hamilton responded in his original way. 
At the moment he was deeply grieved at having 
to sever connections with those who had been 
so true to him, and there were several catches 
in his voice. But when the train steamed 
forth, and he lay back comfortably in his seat, 
he allowed his thoughts to wander in the direc- 
tion of his destination. H^ would be home by 


24 The Quest for the Empress. 

the end of the week, and then — yes, then the 
quest for the Empress would begin. 

He was roused from his reverie when some 
one took the seat beside him. 

Perry ! ’’ he exclaimed. 

“ I wasn’t going to start until to-morrow, 
but the temptation to travel with you was too 
great. I got my ticket, and just managed to 
jump on the last car. You’re improving al- 
ready, Ham; your cheeks are actually pink. 
Your eyes look brighter, too.” 

Why shouldn’t they ? ” he asked. I’m 
going home.” 

'' And court royalty.” Perry laughed. 

No,” said Hamilton, not just yet. We’ll 
have to find the lady first.” 

‘‘ Jove, that’s so. I always forget that part 
of it. But if you do not find her? ” 

“ Don’t look at it in that light. Perry. It 
makes me uneasy. You know I need rest. But 
— but — don’t you think I’ll be able to find her? 
I don’t think one can live in the same city with 
a girl who is in love with you and not come to 

know her. Perhaps ” 

“ But did the letter say she was in love with 
you. Ham?” 

“ What hideous questions you do ask, Perry. 
Can’t you let a man have a moment’s peace? 

Buy ‘ Puck ’ and read it, while I ” 

“ Paint the Empress’ picture for the hun- 
dredth time,” put in Perry. ‘‘No, you’ll have 


The Departure for Home. 25 

time enough to think of her after I leave you. 
While I’m here I want to be entertained. 
That’s why I’m traveling with you.” 

Hamilton said nothing for a time. His eyes 
wandered about the car, and he was noticeably 
uneasy. Perry stood it as long as he could, 
and then, just to say something, he blurted 
out : 

“ Maybe she’s on this very train — in this 
very car.” 

“ Who ? ” Hamilton’s voice was unneces- 
sarily loud. 

“ Why, the — the Empress, of course,” said 
Perry. 

“You do have the queerest thoughts in your 
head. Perry, of any person I know. It’s ab- 
surd to even imagine she’s going this way ” 

“ That’s so,” put in Perry, “ she might be 
going in the opposite direction.” 

“ You don’t mean ” Hamilton hesitated. 

“ I mean just what I say. You don’t know 
where she is. Again I say, she might be going 
in the opposite direction.” 

Hamilton’s face was a blank. 

“ I need rest, Perry,” he said, “ and here you 
are torturing the life out of me. I wish you 
had not said what you did. Such a thought 
never entered my mind.” 

“ Then you expect her to meet ypu at the 
depot ? ” 

“ No, not just that,” replied Hamilton ; 


26 The Quest for the Empress. 

but I think she ought not to go away when 
she expects — expects 

“ You’re in an awful state,” laughed Perry. 

I don’t know exactly what to do in a case of 
your kind. Neither medicine nor surgery 
would be of any rvail. And to think that, 
after all, maybe it’s only a joke.” 

This was the last stroke. Hamilton jerked 
himself together, groaned inwardly, and started 
the conversation in another direction. 

The train slowed up at a small station, and 
three passengers entered the coach — an elderly 
woman and gentleman, and a .tall, slender 
young lady clad in deep mourning. Hamilton 
took them in at a glance, and Perry, raising his 
eyes, said, “ Jove ! There she is now.” 

He began a closer scrutiny of the two who 
had accompanied the girl, and tapping Ham- 
ilton on the shoulder, said : “ Well, if that isn’t 
Mr. and Mrs. Marron, great friends of father 
and mother. But I wonder who the damsel can 
be?” 

“ If you know the lady and gentleman,” said 
Hamilton, all animation, it’s easy enough to 
find out. Look, the gentleman is nodding at 
you. He beckons to you to come. Go, I’ll ex- 
cuse you.” 

Half an hour later Perry returned, and took 
his seat beside Hamilton. ‘‘ Who is she ? ” the 
latter asked, eagerly. 


The Departure for Home. 27 

A Miss Courtney/' began Perry. “ She 

u 

'' Didn't you ask her first name ? " inter- 
rupted Hamilton. 

“What do I care about her first name?" 

“ But I do." 

Perry laughed outright. “ You're posi- 
tively daffy on that subject," he said. “ Don't 
become excited this time. She's not the Em- 
press." 

“ How do you know ? " 

“ Miss Courtney’s an angel," said 'Perry. 
“ Any one taking an interest in you could not 
be that." 

Hamilton simply looked at Perry. The lat- 
ter continued : 

“ She's an orphan, her father having re- 
cently died. She is now under the chaperonage 
of Mr. and Mrs. Marron. She is to live with 
them ; it was her father's wish. There appears 
to be some trouble about his will. He was 
thought to be well off, and it may yet prove to 
be so, but through some designing relatives of 
the father, it is feared the girl will be left pen- 
niless. • She really has the most bewitching 
smile ; well-informed on topics of the day, too, 
but in no way desirous of showing off. How 
do you like her hat ? " 

“ Oh, it's a modest affair," and Hamilton 
shrugged his shoulders. 

“ Her teeth are even, and white as snow." 


28 The Quest for the Empress. 

“Are they?” 

“ And, ye gods ! what hair ! Did you notice 
it?” 

“Which?” 

“Her hair.” 

“ Oh,” said Hamilton, “ yes, her hair.” 

“ Where are you. Ham ? ” asked Perry. 

Stalking after that stray Empress again ? Do 
you think she’s the only woman in the world? ” 

“ There is a Miss Courtney, I believe,” said 
Hamilton, smiling, “ so let’s compromise, and 
say there are two women in the world. How 
does that strike you ? ” 

“ As the most sensible thing you have said 
in half an hour.” 


Nan. 


29 


CHAPTER IV. 

NAN. 

Hamilton was nearing his journey’s end. 
Since his friend Perry had left him he was free 
to allow his thoughts to wander off in the 
direction of the personage Gerald Whitney had 
written about. He was almost trembling with 
excitement when he stepped from the train and 
grasped his friend by the hand. Whitney 
noticed this, and said: 

“You look healthy, but you appear to have 
the palsy.” 

“ It’s all your fault,” said Hamilton. “ Since 
I received your letter about the — the Empress, 
I haven’t had a moment’s peace. Where is 
she? Why isn’t she here to meet me? ” 

“ Because a sovereign doesn’t go to a sub- 
ject,” said Whitney. “ The reverse is the case, 
you know.” 

“ Well, tell me where to go, and I’ll go,” 
said Hamilton. 

“ Not so swift. Chum,” said Whitney. “ All 
will come in time.” 

“ But I can’t await the expiration of time.” 


30 The Quest for the Empress. 


“ Then I don’t know what you are going to 
do.” 

They chatted together for some little time, 
after which Hamilton boarded a car. When 
he was seated he looked back to where he had 
left Whitney. A tall figure clothed in a tailor- 
made costume stood beside him. Hamilton 
half rose, but the car just then turned a corner, 
hiding them from view. 

“ So that’s why he was in such a hurry to 
get rid of me,” Hamilton mused. “ She was 
actually there. Perhaps I might have stretched 
out my hand and touched her, unlucky devil 
that I am.” 

Then he began running his eyes over the oc- 
cupants of the car. He scanned each feminine 
face closely. Finally he leaned back, half 
closed his eyes, and sat in meditation until his 
street was called out, when he stepped from the 
car, and walked rapidly along the sidewalk. 

His home-coming was unexpected. He had 
not written his parents the exact time of his 
return, thinking that perhaps his friend Whit ■ 
ney and the royal personage might be there to 
meet him, on which occasion he would not 
want his immediate family to notice his agita- 
tion. So when he rang the bell, and the door 
was opened, his sister Nan gave one cry of 
“ Blair ! ” then fled through the house announc- 
ing her brother’s return. 

After a hearty meal, during which Hamilton 


Nan. 


31 


endeavored to answer at least one-quarter of 
the questions that were put to him, his father 
and mother left for a reception, and he and 
Nan were left alone. 

From the time he entered the house, Ham- 
ilton had been eying the costume his sister 
wore — it was of the same style as the one he 
had seen upon the figure at Whitney’s side 
when he chanced to look out of the trolley 
window. “ I suppose your dress is of the latest 
fashion?” he finally asked. 

“ There is no supposing about it,” said 
Nan; “ it’s a certainty. But why do you ask? 
You did not used to pay any attention what- 
ever to feminine attire.” 

I have changed. Nan,” he said. 

'' Changed ? ” iterated Nan. “ Why, what 
— Blair, you’re not in love?” 

Hamilton tried to look calm, but he made a 
farce of it. 

“ And you never wrote me a word about it,” 
said Nan. “ That’s downright cruel. But 
what is she like? ” 

“ I cannot say,” was Hamilton’s brief reply. 

This caused his sister to pout. “ Very well,” 
she began, “ if I’m not good enough to confide 

in, why — why ” There came the slightest 

catch in her voice. “ I’ll wager she’s a fright,” 
she went on, “ hideous, ogreish, griffin-like. 
A waitress perhaps, a ” 

‘‘ There is living somewhere in Europe a 


32 The Quest for the Empress. 

deposed Empress,” Hamilton began, “ whose 
>> 

“ Blair,” exclaimed Nan, “ is it an Em- 
press ? ” 

“ Yes,” said Hamilton, “ that is, for want 
of a better name it’s an Empress. I saw her 
with Gerald Whitney at the station after I got 
on the car. The style of her dress was like the 
one you have on.” 

“ An Empress in a tailor-made ! ” cried Nan. 
“ And in Buffalo ! And in Gerald Whitney’s 
company ! And in love with my brother ! Oh, 
this is too much — too sudden,” and she sank 
back in her chair listlessly. 

You’ll help me find her, will you not. 
Nan?” Hamilton asked. 

“ Blair,” said his sister, I begin now to see 
the effects of hard study. Go to bed. You’ll 
feel better in the morning.” 

Impossible,” he said, I couldn’t feel 
better. The Empress loves me.” 

Then Hamilton settled back in his chair, and 
gave Nan the fullest details of the whole affair. 
She sat through it all, sober as the Sphinx. 
But when her brother had finished a queer 
smile flitted across her face. “ Blair,” she 
began, “ you are what we might term, to use a 
common expression, ‘ dead easy.’ It’s all a 
joke. I’m sure. Cast the illusion aside, calm 
down and be yourself. Take a loving sister’s 
advice. Tableau. Curtain.” 


Nan. 


33 

But who was the individual I saw with 
Whitney?” he asked. 

Nan Hamilton seemed to have forgotten 
this part of the affair. If any one had a right 
to be seen with Gerald Whitney she had. Had 
they not been “ going together ” for some 
time? Had not 

“ I say, Blair,” she said, we must find out 
who she is. I hope it’s the Empress, for your 
sake, — as well as for my own,” she added 
under her breath. 

3 


34 The Quest for the Empress. 


CHAPTER V. 

MICKY. 

Hamilton had miraculously escaped a 
Y/heel, the fender of a trolley had all but 
touched his shins, and a horse’s head had 
brushed his hat from his head. But he con- 
tinued to dodge pedestrians along the busy 
thoroughfare, trampled ruthlessly upon sweep- 
ing skirts, and once fell over a baby carriage, 
almost upsetting the perambulator and hurling 
its occupant into the gutter. But he must not 
lose sight of the girl in the tailor-made! She 
continued to walk along at a brisk pace, steer- 
ing clear of the crowds with a grace that aston- 
ished her pursuer. She stopped now and then 
to glance into an attractive window, and Ham- 
ilton caught a momentary view of the attrac- 
tive profile. But at the next moment she was 
again lost in the maze. How glad Hamilton 
was that she was tall 1 Because of this he was 
enabled to keep in view the fluffy chiffon upon 
her hat. 

At last he saw her enter a store. Without 
noticing its branch of trade, he trooped in after 


35 


Micky. 

her, only to find himself stared at by several 
pairs of eyes from behind counters heaped high 
with dainty creations in white, wondrously 
trimmed with laces and insertions. The tailor- 
made girl was seated upon a revolving chair, 
while a lady was unfolding some of the snowy 
articles. She was about to raise her eyes, but 
Hamilton suddenly whisked around, and 
walked out of the store. 

Once more on the street, he began to scan the 
pedestrians. Here was a girl in a tailor-made, 
there another, and there still another. He 
groaned aloud, and muttered something about 
the proverbial needle in the haystack. 

He kept his eye on the doorway of the store 
he had just left so abruptly, bound to continue 
his pursuit of the tall young lady. At length 
she made her appearance, halting a short dis- 
tance from him, and greeting a girl friend who 
chanced along. 

Hamilton kept both ears and eyes open. The 
conversation was ordinary, nothing interesting 
being said until the parting, when Hamilton 
heard the divinity he had been following ad- 
dressed as “ Micky.'' 

‘‘ Micky," he pondered, “ Micky ! of all the 
unearthly names for a girl — Micky. Empress 
— Empress Mick — Empress Micky. Oh, hor- 
rors ! " 

For a moment he lost all interest in the 
figure before him. The combination of name 


36 The Quest for the Empress. 

and title appalled him. Then he ran his eyes 
over the trim figure, noting the graceful car- 
riage, the well-fitting tailor-made. He quick- 
ened his pace, and coming abreast of her just 
as she entered the public park, accidentally 
stepped upon her long skirt, which the wind 
had suddenly blown to one side. He stumbled 
gracefully, and she, turning toward him, met 
his “ I beg your pardon ’’ with a frigid stare. 

I am sorry,” he went on. “ It was a most 

deplorable accident. Had not the wind ” 

“ Don’t be so profuse in words, please,” she 
said, sternly, walking on. 

“ I was merely trying to explain how 

“ Evidently you have been reared in the 
backwoods,” she interrupted, else you would 
be able to walk along the sidewalk without be- 
coming entangled in part of a lady’s garment.” 

“ In the future,” Hamilton said, “ when I 
see a member of the opposite sex in flowing 
robes ahead of me I shall take to the street.” 

“ That’s the place for — for beasts.” 

While sending out this dart, she put forth 
her foot to cross a narrow excavation. Find- 
ing a jump necessary, she drew back again, and 
slipping slightly, turned her ankle. Hamilton 
saw a look of pain shoot across her face, which 
instantly gave way to a forced smile. 

‘‘Ah, you have hurt yourself?” Hamilton 
ventured. 


Micky. 


37 


You appear to know my affairs better than 
I do,” she retorted. “ I did not hurt myself.” 

“ Your words and the look upon your face 
do not correspond,” Hamilton said. “ I know 
you hurt yourself.” 

“ Don’t you think you know a little too 
much?” she asked. “Oh, my ankle!” She 
half fell into a rustic seat nearby. 

“ What a blessing I am a doctor,” he 
thought, and unconsciously uttered the words 
aloud. 

“ Your vocation is of no consequence,” she 
said. “ Besides, I believe you are adapting 
yourself to the occasion. I don’t believe you 
are a doctor.” 

“ Here’s my card,” he said, handing her a 
bit of pasteboard. 

“ I do not wish to make your acquaintance.” 

“ I’ll hold my finger over the name. All I 
wish you to see is the ‘ M. D.’ ” 

“ That’s less worth looking at than the 
name.” 

Blair Hamilton almost ground his teeth. 
How he had worked for that “ M. D.,” and 
now to have 

“ You would favor me greatly by continu- 
ing upon your course,” she said, interrupting 
his thoughts. “You may be wanted at your 
office. It is where a young doctor should 
spend his time. You might miss your first 
patient.” 


38 The Quest for the Empress. 


Hamilton was silent. 

‘‘ You do not at all value your safety,” she 
went on, “ or you would hie yourself hence. 
Your persistence in remaining- shows another 
of your virtues — that of ill-breeding. A 
gentleman — a gentleman — oh ! ” 

The intermingled look of pleasure and pain 
upon her face, to which was added that of 
haughtiness, amused Hamilton immjensely. 
He smiled down at her. 

“ I knew you hadn’t a heart,” she said. 
You don’t know how it pains me — I mean 
how — oh!” she broke off suddenly. 

Listen to reason,” he said, drawing nearer 
to her. 

“ What, from you? ” she cried out. Deli- 
cious ! ” 

Hamilton winced. 

If you are still so much of a gentleman as 
to stand and stare at a person to whom you 
have not yet been introduced,” she continued, 
why ” 

Pardon me,” Hamilton said, “ but is not 
your name — Micky? ” 

She gave a little start, then composed her- 
self again. 

“ What my name is cannot concern you in 
any way,” she said. 

‘‘ And were you not in Gerald Whitney’s 
company at the station on the day I arrived 
from Denver?” he further questioned. 


Micky. 


39 


“ I was apparently in better company then 
than I am now/' she snapped out. How- 
ever, I was quite unaware that you had come 
from the West on that day. My meeting with 
Mr. Whitney was purely chance. Is there any- 
thing more your lordship would like to know ? ’ 
“ Yes," replied Hamilton. “ Why do you 
take such an interest in me?" 

Her forehead clouded for a moment, then 
she laughed outright. “ I am sure you have 
something more than an ‘ M. D.’ attached to 
your name," she said. 

“ What makes you think that ? " 

“ Why, your head appears so — so obese." 

“ Why have you been eluding me for so 
long?" Hamilton was in a questioning mood, 
and he let the interrogations escape him as soon 
as they had formed themselves. 

“ I am not the answerer to a public ques- 
tion-box," she replied, with a shake of the 
head. 

“ You acknowledge then that you were at 
the station with Gerald Whitney on that day? " 
'‘Yes. Have you anything against it?" 

It was perhaps a frail support upon which to 
place the declaration Hamilton had been upon 
the verge of making ever since his eventful en- 
counter with the young lady before him ; but 
he was used to making bold strokes, so he 
looked her squarely in the eye, and said; 

" Then you are the Empress." 


40 The Quest for the Empress. 

She stared at him rather wildly, and paled 
somewhat. 

“ I knew you were from the first,” he went 
on. “ Your face now betrays you. You are 
becoming positively pallid.” 

‘‘ It is not unusual, is it, when one finds 
herself confronted by a — madman?” she 
asked. I wonder that I do not faint. Please 
go away. Were it possible, I myself would 

lice. But my ankle ” 

Let me examine it.” 

‘‘Now? Never!” she cried. “Your hal- 
lucination that I came to meet you upon your 
arrival from Denver, coupled with the insane 
idea that I am an Empress, places you in a 
light that is not at all to your credit. Please 
go away, or I shall scream. My fortitude is 
deserting me.” 

“ Do I look ■ like a lunatic ? ” Hamilton 
asked. 

“ Looks are ever deceiving,” she replied. 
“ Does a politician look like a person who 
would cheat and steal?” 

“ Then you think I talk like a person bereft 
of his reason ? ” was his next question. 

“ I most certainly do,” was her quick reply. 

“ Great Scott I ” he said to himself, “ Fll 
think so myself if this thing keeps on. Why 
on earth did Whitney ever pester me with that 
plagued Empress subject. I haven’t had a 
minute’s peace since.” 


Micky. 


41 


His eyes wandered over the trim figure be- 
fore him. He had never yet seen a face so 
exactly to his taste. The long lashes, the well- 
shaped brows, the pouting lip’s, the 

“ Ugh, that child ! ’’ he heard her cry out, 
and looking into the street, he saw a little girl 
fleeing from her terrified nurse, almost under 
the feet of a pair of oncoming horses. It took 
but a moment, and the child was safely in his 
arms, the steeds rearing and plunging as the 
driver tried to stop them. 


42 The Quest for the Empress. 


CHAPTER VI. 

THE FIRST PATIENT. 

That evening Blair Hamilton, M. D., went 
early to his room. For a time he paced back 
and forth, his arms folded, his head almost 
resting upon his breast. And that she should 
have escaped me after all,” he muttered to him- 
self. “ And in so short a time. Why, I had 
barely rescued the child and restored it to the 
nurse, when I looked, only to find the seat 
deserted, and the person who had been sitting 
there nowhere in sight. It is little short of 
miraculous.” 

He flung himself into a chair. 

“Is she the Empress, or is she not?” he 
went on ruminatingly. “To be sure, I have 
little proof that she is; but — she was sham- 
ming about her ankle, too,” he broke out. 
“ Playing me for a dunce, and hitting me right 
and left with her bitter remarks. She didn’t 
hurt her ankle at all, and yet she led me to be- 
lieve she had, at the same time telling me that 
she had not. She couldn’t have injured her- 
self, else how could she have gotten away so 


The First Patient. 


43 


quickly, so completely? That makes me think 
more than ever she’s the Empress. She’s for- 
ever trying to elude me. She’s afraid I’ll cor- 
ner her. Well, she’s gone for this time, and I’ll 
have to begin the quest all over again. But 
look out, my royal personage, the second meet- 
ing may prove a whirlwind — to you.” 

He stretched out his long limbs, and putting 
his hands at the back of his head, gazed up at 
the ceiling. “ Well, it does beat all,” he 
thought, “ how a mere woman will come into 
a man’s life and upset him so completely^ 
Here am I, Blair Hamilton, who used to groan 
when a woman came his way, actually losing 
sleep over one of the sex, let alone what my 
appetite is suffering. Hamilton, brace up ; 
you’re parting with your dignity. Brace up, 
brace up. I suppose, under the circumstances, 
I ought to take to drink. And I certainly have 
sufficient cause to. But ” 

He began to undress, and getting into bed, 
ran over the day’s events. Then he drifted off 
into a professional channel. But try as he 
would not to see it, a tall figure clad in a tailor- 
made kept rising up before him. During the 
night, his hands went through vague move- 
ments. But he was only bandaging a sprained 
ankle. 

When he arose the next morning he felt re- 
freshed after his night’s rest. He went about 
dressing himself with precision and alertness. 


44 The Quest for the Empress. 

The look upon his face was almost grim. “ No 
tomfoolery now,” he said to himself. “ Out 
goes the sign to-day. ‘ Blair Hamilton, 
M. D.’ Well, the letters are large even if the 
individual is insignificant. And after the sign 
is out, what then? Just sit and wait for some- 
thing to turn up. It may come in a day, and it 
may come in a year. In the meantime, I must 
purchase a horse and rig, take my little satchel, 
and race around the town wildly; deceive 
people, and by deceiving them make them think 
you really amount to something, and gradually 
draw them into seeking you professionally. 
Yes, out goes the sign to-day.” 

After the bit of wood had been put into place 
Hamilton walked to the corner and back again, 
just to see how it looked. A little lump of en- 
thusiasm rose in his throat as he slammed the 
door and entered the humble apartment that 
was to serve as an office. 

He had now entered upon his profession ; he 
must conduct himself accordingly. So he took 
a ponderous volume from a nearby shelf, and 
sat down to read. Almost instantly the electric 
bell rang. For a second Hamilton was in a 
daze. Then a smile lighted up his face. What 
if it were a patient? What if ? 

He dropped the book, tripped over to the mir- 
ror, seized the comb, and ran it recklessly 
through his hair. A whisk was hurriedly 
jerked from its case, worked across his shoul- 


The First Patient. 


45 


ders and the front of his coat, after which he 
sauntered out into the hall. His hand was al- 
most upon the knob, when an idea struck him. 
He must not demean himself by acting in the 
capacity of both office-boy and physician. He 
looked up the stairs and saw Bridgetta, the 
servant, peering over the balustrade. 

Bridgetta,” he called softly, “ please go to 
the door. If the lady ” (he could see it was a 
lady through the stained glass) “ inquires for 
me, show her into the reception room. Tell 
her I am busy ; but will see her as soon as pos- 
sible. Then come to me.” 

Hamilton scampered back to the office. 

Bridgetta was usually slow, but now her 
slowness seemed to verge upon the miraculous. 
An eternity of time and suspense appeared to 
elapse before her loud rap was heard upon the 
door. 

“ It do be a loidy, sir,” were her first words. 
“ She’s afther havin’ somethin’ in wan o’ her 
oiyes. She would like the doctor to take it 
out.” 

All right, in a minute,” said Hamilton. 

Oi told her you wor busy cleanin’ the cush- 
pidor,” went on Bridgetta. ‘‘ It wor the firsht 
thing that come to me moind.” 

Hamilton grinned, at the same time clench- 
ing his teeth. 

The servant babbled on, pouring into Hamil- 
ton’s ears all the details of the fair patient’s 


46 The Quest for the Empress. 


costume, contour of face, color of eyes and 
hue of hair. In the midst of the display, Ham- 
ilton coughed, then jerked himself together, 
and assuming a stern look, he walked out into 
the reception room. 

In a somewhat darkened corner of the apart- 
ment he saw a figure seated upon a sofa- piled 
high with cushions. The head was averted, 
a handkerchief held up to one eye. The next 
observation he made staggered him. She was 
gowned in a black tailor-made. 

I have something in my eye,’' she began, 

and it makes the other eye so watery that I 
can barely see out of it.” 

Hamilton all but danced for joy. That voice 
settled it. Again he stood face to face with 
W as it the Empress ? 

“ Don’t try to look out of the other eye,” 
he said. 

At the sound of his voice she started to lower 
the handkerchief. Hamilton deftly took hold 
of her hand and replaced it. “ Don’t,” he said ; 
“ it might produce total loss of eyesight.” 

He feared recognition, which he knew would 
not only mean the loss of his first and decidedly 
interesting patient, but of the object upon 
which his thoughts had been centered for so 
long a time. 

‘‘ Is it so bad as that? ” she asked. “ Oh ! ” 

“ The eye is a frail piece of mechanism, you 
know/’ he went on. '' It is best to be on the 


The First Patient. 


47 


safe side. Keep the handkerchief in place, 
ril lead you to the office, and then make an 
examination.’’ 

“ Oh, thank you. It is very kind of you.” 

Her words brought a smile to Hamilton’s 
face. He could hardly believe she was the 
same person he had encountered in the park. 
If she but knew! The doctor chuckled in- 
wardly. 

‘‘ It is so annoying to get anything in one’s 
eye,” she said, after she was seated. 

“ Very,” was his brief reply. 

“ Shall I remove my hat? ” she asked. It 
is such a ponderous affair.” 

“ Nevertheless, it is very becoming,” he ven- 
tured. 

“ Then perhaps I had better not take it off,” 
and she laughed lightly. 

“ Yes, you had better remove it,” Hamilton 
said. “ I’ll hold the handkerchief while you do 
so.” 

“Is it really necessary?” she asked. “It 
will take but a moment.” 

“ I’d rather be on the safe side,” he said, 
putting his hand up to the bit of linen. 

“ How absurd I ” she cried out a moment 
later. “ I might have closed my eyes. I did 
not think of that.” 

“ Nor I,” said Hamilton. After which they 
both laughed. 

At the time, Blair Hamilton would have 


48 The Quest for the Empress. 

laughed if told that total annihilation awaited 
him the next moment. The situation seemed to 
be made for laughing purposes only. 

‘‘ I suppose my head is tousled,” she volun- 
teered, during the pause that followed. 

“ Nevertheless, it is very becoming,” again 
slipped from Hamilton’s lips. 

“ That’s twice you’ve made that same re- 
mark,” a faint blush suffusing her face. 

I shall have to say it once more,” added 
Hamilton. “ The Germans have a saying, you 
know, that all good things are three.” 

“Yes? ” archly. 

“ Oh, what a trance ! ” to himself. 

“ I hardly think this handkerchief is becom- 
ing to my looks. Don’t you think you had bet- 
ter begin to — ^^to excavate? Have you had 
much experience in removing articles that have 
become imbedded in the eye ? ” 

“ Oh, yes.” 

“ What is your specialty? ” 

“ The — ah — ah — eye.” 

“ And to-morrow is it apt to be the lungs ? ” 
she asked. 

“ Oh, no,” he began. Then noticing the 
curve of her lips, he saw the point of her re- 
mark. 

“ I have been told that a doctor always 
adapts himself to occasions,” were her next 
words. 

“ He would be an ass if he didn’t,” thought 


The First Patient. 


49 

Hamilton; “especially on an occasion of this 
sort.” 

Then aloud : “ You have a clever way of 
putting the matter. But, would you believe 
it? women make doctors tell them nine-tenths 
of the lies they do.” 

“Indeed?” She said nothing more, but 
Hamilton noticed the lips suddenly draw up 
into a pout. 

“ Do you spend as much time as this over all 
your patients ? ” she next asked. “ If it takes 
you an hour to remove a speck of dust from an 
eye, how long would it take you to cut off an 
arm ? ” 

“ Please don’t put problems to me,” Ham- 
ilton said. “ It makes me feel like a school- 
boy.” 

“ And how long ago were you one — yester- 
day ? ” 

Hamilton felt the stab. It caused him to go 
to work with a vengeance. 

“ Hold that handkerchief up to the eye that 
is free from dust,” he said, sternly. “ Keep 
the other eye closed until I tell you to open it. 
Do you understand ? ” 

“ Perfectly,” was her brief reply. 

He twisted her head to one side, then brought 
it not altogether gently against the back of the 
chair. 

“ Don’t move,” he said. 

“ Very well.” 

4 


5o The Quest for the Empress. 

“ Now give me your name and address, 
please.” 

“ It is not necessary,” she said. “ I have suf- 
ficient money with me to remunerate you for 
your labor. You need not send a bill.” 

“ I must have your name and address,” he 
said. 

“ The things people must have they do not 
always get,” and Hamilton could not help see- 
ing the jerk of her head. “ If you will 
kindly ” 

“ Don’t take away that handkerchief. Don’t 
open that eye.” She had half risen from the 
chair. 

“ Then please go to work, for it — it’s begin- 
ning to pain me.” 

“ I’m sorry,” said Hamilton, touched at the 
tremulous voice. 

“ Don’t let’s quarrel,” she said. 

Then Hamilton got down to work. It took 
but a minute to remove the disturbing element. 
Standing back of her, he held up a piece of 
cloth, upon which there lay the tiniest of black 
specks. 

“ Is that all there was in it ? ” she asked, 
lowering the handkerchief. “ My eye must be 
awful to behold.” 

‘‘Nevertheless, it is becoming.” 

Hamilton’s thoughts were far away. He 
had no idea what he was saying. But he was 


The First Patient. 51 

glad that was the case, for she broke out in a 
silvery laugh. 

The next moment their eyes met. Hamilton 
looked like an urchin up before his teacher for 
a thrashing. He made sad havoc of an attempt 
at smiling. 

The patient, throwing back her head, eyed 
him fiercely. “ Why, you’re — you’re ” 

“ I can’t help it,” Hamilton said. 

Oh, and to think that I have been in the 
very hands of a madman,” she wailed. 

‘‘ Miss, I’ll have you understand ” 

That accounts for your idiotic mode of 
treatment,” she interrupted. “ How much do 
I owe you? Please tell me, that I may — 
escape.” 

She was adjusting her hat, all the time 
keeping her eye on the perturbed doctor. 

“ Before you leave this room, madam, you 
must swear that I am not a lunatic.” Ham- 
ilton’s brow was furrowed, his voice loud. 

It is not altogether agreeable to be adjudged 
insane when one is not. Put yourself in my 
place.” 

But you declared that time that I was an 
Empress.” 

‘‘ And I make the declaration again,” said 
Hamilton. “ Swear that you are the Em- 
press.” 

“ I’ll do nothing of the sort,” she exclaimed. 
“ I’ll neither swear that I am the — the Empress, 


52 The Quest for the Empress. 

nor that you are not insane. Another moment 
of this farce, and I shall I’m in an aw- 

ful temper.” 

“ Nevertheless, it becomes you,” said Ham- 
ilton, smilingly. 

‘‘ Please tell me how much I owe you,” she 
went on. Here’s my purse. Take what you 
think you have earned.” 

Hamilton took the purse, but did not touch 
a cent of money in it. Instead, he took a card, 
upon which there was printed a name and ad- 
dress. By the time he was ready to return the 
purse, the patient had donned her hat and 
gloves. “ Thank you,” he said. 

“ Thank you,” she returned, receiving the 
purse. “ Are you sure you took enough ? ” 

“ I am amply rewarded,” he said. 

Good morning.” 

Good morning,” and Hamilton smiled 
divinely. 

After she had gone he threw himself into a 
chair, and shook with laughter. 

“ Trapped at last,” he mused. But who is 
Milady? And where her castle? ” 

Going to the window, he took the card from 
his pocket. Upon it was written : 

MISS HORTENSE RANDALL, 

1120 Delaware Avenue. 


The Empress. 


53 


CHAPTER VIL 

THE EMPRESS. 

“ I SAY, Gerald,” Hamilton was saying to 
his friend, “ when are you going to introduce 
me to the Empress? ” 

At some future time — perhaps,” was the 
reply. 

“ It’s not right, hang it, to go on like this,” 
burst out Hamilton. “ A man can’t live under 
a strain like the one you have thrust upon me. 
What’s to keep you from telling me all about 
it?” 

“ Everything, old man,” said Gerald Whit- 
ney. “ The individual who is bothering you at 
present is an extraordinary individual. Hence- 
quently (by the way, that’s a word of her own 
coinage), great caution must be exercised in 
anything relating to her august majesty.” 

“ Well, tell me something about her,” pleaded 
Hamilton. '' Is she tall? ” 

Rather.” 

Blonde?” 

Rather.” 

Blue eyes ? 


54 The Quest for the Empress. 

Rather/’ 

Hamilton folded his arms and leaned back in 
his chair. 

“ She swears,” Whitney further said. 

Hamilton sat more erect. 

“ But she does it in a way that is wonder- 
fully fetching,” proceeded Whitney. “ In an 
ordinary person it would be gross.” 

Gad,” burst out the doctor, “ I’d like to 
meet a girl that swears. What else does she 
do?” 

“ Flashes out wit like lightning,” said Whit- 
ney. ‘‘ She reads much, digests what she 
reads, and sees points that nine out of ten per- 
sons would not dream of. You know Bron- 
ton’s ' Earline ’ ? ” 

Hamilton nodded. 

See anything wrong in it ? ” 

‘‘Wrong?” queried the doctor. “In that 
book? No.” 

“ I thought so,” said Whitney. “ You don’t 
read between lines. She does. That’s where 
she came across it.” 

“ It’s a clever antic of the author,” Ham- 
ilton said. 

“ It doesn’t compare with that of the Em- 
press in finding it out,” quicklyput in Whitney. 

“ Does she sing or play upon any instru- 
ment? ” the doctor asked. 

“ No,” was the reply ; “ and yet in each 
case she is a wonderful critic.” 


The Empress. 


55 


Does she write ? ’’ 

“ She can ; but is timid about submitting 
anything to an editor. She punctuates abom- 
inably, sometimes spells worse, and talks over 
the ’phone like a beast. You see, she has her 
faults.” 

“ It’s a queer combination, surely,” com- 
mented Hamilton; ‘‘something like a bought 
mince-pie. It looks good, tastes better, but 
what’s in it ? ” 

“ When it comes to conversation she reaches 
the top notch,” went on Whitney. “ You have 
to keep your mind working to understand her. 
She sometimes makes remarks that, for the 
moment, savor of the idiotic; but think them 
over, and you’ll always find a rare gem of 
thought imbedded somewhere.” 

“ I honestly think you are doping me, 
Whit,” broke in Hamilton. 

“ Pleasant dope, eh ? ” the other said. “ Not 
even bitter to the taste. Throws you into a 
most agreeable nightmare, not so ? ” 

Hamilton smiled. 

“ And look at all she has done for you,” said 
Whitney, vehemently. “ If it wasn’t for her 
you wouldn’t have tried those exams. You 
couldn’t have hitched that ‘ M. D.’ to your 
name. By the way, I see your shingle is up. 
Any patients yet ? ” 

“ Oh, one,” came from the doctor, care- 
lessly. 


56 The Quest for the Empress. 

Ah, the first patient must be interesting,’' 
commented Whitney. ‘‘Was he — she?” 

“ She.” 

“ Oh,” and Whitney whistled. 

“ Young?” 

“ I have seen older.” 

“ Prepossessing? ” 

“ I have seen them less so.” 

“ Interesting theme, and — and subject,” said 
Whitney. 

“ A head-liner in both instances,” said Ham- 
ilton. 

“ Well, I suppose you got in your share of 
— of bluffing?” Whitney asked, his eyes 
sparkling. 

“ I have nothing to complain of.” 

“ I’m mighty glad you got through all 
right.” Whitney nestled down in his chair. 

“ I fared even better than that,” the doctor 
said. 

“ Did you soak her for a shekel or five.? ” 

“ Better than that.” 

“Well, man, out with it,” cried Whitney. 
“ Can’t you see I’m suffering? What did you 
get?” 

“ Her name and address.” 

“ Eh ? ” Whitney raised his brows. “ Her — 

her Then she didn’t shell right out? You 

are going to dun papa ? ” 

“ Guess again, Whit.” 


The Empress. 57 

“Still on the wrong track?” the friend 
asked. “ It's not a case of money, then? ” 

“ No,” answered the doctor. “ What I’ve 
got is worth more — to me — than a vast amount 
of coin.” 

“ Then you value her name and address 
above greenbacks ? ” Whitney questioned. 
“ She must be an extraordinary person.” 

“ She is,” said Hamilton. “ I have your 
word for it.” 

“ Really, Blair, you — you ” stammered 

Whitney. “ My word for it? ” 

“ Didn’t you tell me a few minutes ago that 
the Empress was an extraordinary person ? ” 
Blair Hamilton, M. D., beamed upon his 
friend. 

The latter slapped his hand upon his knee, 
grinned for a moment, then laughed roundly. 

“Well, what are you laughing at?” asked 
the doctor. 

“ It’s so funny, Blair. Let’s laugh to- 
gether.” 

“ It is rather funny.” 

Hamilton’s forced laughter had the effect of 
suddenly silencing Whitney. “ You can’t 
mean, Ham,” he said, “ that your patient — the 
first one — was the — the ” 

“ Why not? ” the doctor interrupted. 

“But how did you get the name and ad- 
dress ? ” 

“ In a strategic way, Whit. But We 


58 The Quest for the Empress. 


met before to-day/' and Hamilton related his 
experience in the park. 

“You seem to have been going at a mad 
pace since I was out of town," said Whitney. 
“ What else have you been doing? " 

“ Nothing outside of what I have told you." 
“To sum it all up : thinking of the Empress, 

searching for her, and " 

“ Finding her," completed the doctor. 

“ And what is your next move ? " 

“ There is only one." 

“And that?" 

“ To call upon her, you dunce," said Hamil- 
ton. 


Hortense. 


59 


CHAPTER VIIL 

HORTENSE. 

In Blair Hamilton’s account book for a cer- 
tain day you will come across the following list 
of purchases : 

One Pair of Patent Leather Shoes. 

One Hat. 

One Pair of Gloves. 

One Cravat. 

Perfume. 

Carnation (for buttonhole). 

Cane (for fine weather). 

Umbrella (for rainy weather). 

Etc., etc. 

The doctor ran over the list several times. 
Various of the articles he already had in his 
possession, but after a close inspection they 
were found to be not good enough to grace the 
stupendous event which Hamilton had been 
planning for almost a week. 

On that afternoon he had all the purchases 
displayed upon his erect and shapely figure. 
The last thing he did was to lift the carnation 
from a tumbler of water, and place it in the 
lapel of his coat 


6o The Quest for the Empress. 

‘‘ I wonder if I am fixed up enough to be 
presented at court,” he mused. “ Ah, my 
divine sovereign, at last I am to worship before 
your throne, in your own castle.” 

He picked a fleck of dust from the hem of 
his trousers. He also went through various 
vague movements — movements not explainable 
unless one lay them at the door of nervousness. 

The doctor has no record of what transpired 
from the time he left his own humble home 
until he fell listlessly into a chair in a sumptu- 
ous parlor some distance away. He can swear 
that he went out of one house and into another ; 
but further he will not commit himself. 

After he was seated he removed his gloves 
and clasped his clammy hands together. At 
the next moment — involuntarily — he was feel- 
ing his own pulse. From this he passed to 
braiding the fringe on the arm of the chair. 
Then again followed a lapse of time of which 
Hamilton will never be able to give account. 

Suddenly he heard a rustle on the stairway. 
At this auspicious moment Blair Hamilton 
rose to the dignity of the occasion. He was 
never more in possession of his senses than 
when he directed his eyes toward the open door- 
way, and beheld an apparition in mauve. 

He rose, made a rather awkward salaam, 
then sunk into his chair again. How he wished 
that chair were Jonah’s whale! 

“ I would like to see Miss Randall/’ he said. 


Hortense. 


6i 


You have that honor now,” were her first 
words. 

I mean your — your sister,” he stammered. 

“ Oh, but you’ll have to be satisfied with 
me,” she said, smiling. 

“ Quit your kidding,” was what he wanted 
to say, but what he really did say was : 

“ It is not a question of satisfaction. It is 
Well, I have met your sister before.” 

“ Indeed ! ” she cried out. “ Then you are 
the most remarkable individual I ever came 
across.” 

“ Yes,” he said, having met her falls little 
short of being remarkable. You are very much 
like her in — in ” 

'' What? ” breathlessly. 

“ Conversational abilities.” 

“ Oh,” and she seated herself opposite him. 
While he was looking at her, she shivered. 

“ Are you ? ” he began. 

“ No,” she interrupted, “ Fm not cold; but 
the situation is so weird. I do not like being 
compared to a person who does not exist.” 

Hamilton said nothing for a moment. Then 
he laughed. 

“ After that remark you’re more like your 
sister than ever,” he said. 

She smiled. “ The situation waxes humor- 
ous,” she said. 

“ But let it take a serious trend,” Hamilton 
broke out. “ Is this not your sister’s card? ” 


62 The Quest for the Empress. 

producing a bit of pasteboard, the getting of 
which had plunged him into a very sea of joy. 

It’s my card,” she said, simply. “ How 
did you ever get possession of it? Are you a 
prestidigitator? By the way, whom have I 
the honor of addressing?” 

Hamilton handed her one of his cards. 

‘‘ I never heard of you,” she said. 

Hamilton looked at her viciously. 

Oh,” she exclaimed, ‘‘ I beg your pardon. 
I am sure the day will come when your name 
will be a household word. Really, now, you 

look intelligent. But ” 

Please don’t say that I am a lunatic.” 
Hamilton interrupted. “ I have suffered that 
indignity before. And all because of a woman. 
Honest, now, isn’t your sister the — the Em- 
press? ” 

She arched her brows, and paled somewhat. 
“ Really, Dr. Hamilton,” she began, “ you — 
you ” 

“ Don’t,” he interrupted again ; I know 
what your thoughts are. I can’t stand the 
repetition of a remark about my sanity. To 
others it may not seem so, but I am in my 
right senses. I’m searching for an individual, 
who, I have been told, has taken an interest in 
my welfare. But she continues to elude me, 
why, I cannot tell. A short time ago she was 
in my office. I treated one of her eyes. It was 
upon that occasion that I got this card, hoW 


Hortense. 


63 

he 


I do not care to tell. And now- 
sighed. 

“ Describe her to me,” his fair hostess said. 

After he had finished the face opposite him 
flushed, the eyes sparkled, the lips were curved 
into a mischievous smile. “ You forgot to tell 
me about the park episode,” she said. 

Hamilton could not conceal his surprise. 

Then you know of that too? ” he asked. 

“ Yes.” 

From henceforth,” proceeded Hamilton, 
‘‘ I refuse to be surprised at any remark a 
young lady may make to me. I take it for 
granted that every maid in the town not only 
knows what I have already done, but also what 
I intend doing in the future. Have the kind- 
ness to give me the lady’s name. You know 
her, of course? ” 

“ Yes,” was the answer, I know her just 
well enough not to deal out her name to — 
to ” 

“ An idiot,” put in the doctor. “ Why do 
you hesitate when you come to the interesting 
part of a sentence ? But Fm no idiot. Til have 
you understand that. When I meet this — this 
flippant person I shall compel her to swear to 
my rationality. If you yourself still have any 
doubts as to the condition of my brain, very 
well. If you do not deem me an object for an 
asylum, kindly say so, and I shall depart in 
peace.” 


64 The Quest for the Empress. 

“ You may be a very sane person,” she 
promptly said ; “ but you are in love. In this 
state a man cannot be held responsible for his 
actions.” 

“ What have I done or said while here,” he 
asked, “ to give you that idea ? ” 

“ I knew it before you came,” she replied. 

“ Then you two have been talking it over ? ” 
It was quite natural to do so, was it not? ” 

‘‘ And you came to the conclusion that I was 
a — a lunatic? ” 

“ No,” she answered, “ a lover. But there 
is little difference.” 

Blair Hamilton found it difficult to be stern 
with the vivacious maiden whose acquaintance 
he had made under such strange circumstances. 
She was smiling at the last remark she had 
made, and he at once came to the conclusion 
that it was good policy to follow suit. He de- 
cided to show the amiable side of his character, 
hoping by that means to win her confidence, 
and in time persuade her into revealing the 
identity of the person who continued to be the 
pivot upon which his thoughts centered. 

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about 
the doctor’s face was the innocent look it al- 
ways wore. He himself often declared that 
this fact had saved him from heaps of trouble. 
The next most remarkable thing about his 
countenance was his mode of smiling. He had 
a way of tilting his head, of curving his lips 


Hortense. 


65 


and displaying his even teeth, that always com- 
pelled those looking on to relax their own 
physiognomies. Miss Randall had been smil- 
ing, and when Hamilton condescended to fol- 
low her example she could not help broadening 
her grin. 

“A flag of truce on both sides, eh?” she 
said. 

“ That appears to be the case.” 

A most agreeable state of affairs,” she 
went on. “ I retract all the insinuations I have 
made; I also take back any hasty words. Now 
what do you do? ” 

“ The same,” he promptly said. “ Then we 
are -friends? ” 

“ Of course.” 

“ And you’ll — you’ll help me? ” he asked. 

“ I’ll send all my sick friends to you.” 

“ You are again verging upon the border- 
land of war. I’m afraid,” Hamilton said. “ I 
referred to the — the lady.” 

“ Oh, I beg your pardon,” she quickly added. 

I did not quite understand you.” 

After a few commonplace remarks he rose, 
and taking up his hat, moved out of the room. 
At the door. Miss Randall asked him to call 
again, adding: 

“ I wish you to meet my friend Mr. Whit- 
ney — Mr. Gerald Whitney.” 

“Mr. Gerald Whit— Whit ” he stam- 

mered. Oh, I shall be pleased to meet him.” 

5 


66 The Quest for the Empress. 


When he got back home he let himself in 
with a key, and went directly up to his room. 
He threw down his cane, removed his gloves, 
and tossed his hat upon the table. 

“ One pair of patent leathers,” he mur- 
mured ; “ one hat ; one pair of glov And 

no Empress yet ! Have I advanced an iota ? Is 
she any nearer to my grasp than she was be- 
fore? No — yes. I know her friend. It is a 
connecting link. And this friend — to be 
Gerald’s friend! But he’s a sly customer! I 
certainly shall never get at the bottom of him. 
And Gerald is my friend ! Miss Randall 
doesn’t know this. The Empress evidently 
does. But she doesn’t know I know Miss Ran- 
dall. One pair of patent leathers, one ” 

He suddenly broke off. “ Stop it. Ham ; 
don’t make a complete fool of yourself.” 


Aft Unexpected Meeting. 67 


CHAPTER IX. 

AN UNEXPECTED MEETING. 

“ I HAD an experience yesterday,’^ Hor- 
tense Randall was saying to her friend Micky, 
in the latter’s home. 

“ Any one killed ? ” 

“ No, not even maltreated. But really, 
Micky, it was somewhat unusual.” 

“ What — the experience or the cause ? ” — 
her friend asked. 

“ The experience, of course. The person 
was decidedly exemplary.” 

“ How could — it — be otherwise in your au- 
gust company?” Micky asked. “Woman or 
beast?” 

“ Demigod.” 

“ Hortense ! ” cried out Micky. “ How dare 
you be so lavish in my presence! So it was 
a gentleman. Water color or oil?” 

“ Don’t be so terse, Micky,” said Hortense. 
“ And please don’t ask so many questions.” 

“ But you’re just dying to answer them. 
Honest, now aren’t you ? ” 


68 The Quest for the Empress. 

“ Well, yes,” was the reply. “ But — I am 
not so interested as some one else ought to be.” 

“ I hate to get mixed up with experiences,” 
said Micky. “ I usually fare so well that I lose 
every chance of ever making the person with 
whom I am ' experiencing ’ my friend. ' But 
more about the gentleman, please. I want to 
have done with the sad affair. Put into words 
your thoughts on the subject.” 

Well,” began Hortense, ‘‘ a gentleman 
called upon me by mistake. He ” 

“ Why don’t you say a ‘ feller ’ ? ” Micky 
asked. 

Because he was a gentleman,” and Hor- 
tense jerked up her head. 

“ How easily you spit fire to-day,” Micky 
observed. “ You’re a regular volcano.” 

“Why shouldn’t I be? Yesterday I was 
mistaken for you.” 

“ That’s enough to erupt any one,” declared 
Micky. 

The next instant she cried out : 

“The gentleman called yesterday?” 

Hortense nodded. 

“ Why didn’t you keep up the delusion, and 
find out what he wanted? ” 

“ I knew that before he came,” said Hor- 
tense. “ It was the — the doctor.” 

Micky’s face took on a look of cold hauteur. 
“ Indeed,” she said, “ the doctor ! ” 

After a pause Hortense began: 


An Unexpected Meeting. 69 

Well, Micky, there is just this much to it: 
he can’t help himself. And the time is coming 
when you can’t help yourself. I know you 
really care for him.” 

“ I have often told you that you are gifted, 
Hortense,” said Micky. 

“You like tall people — men,” Hortense cor- 
rected. “ The doctor is tall. You like light 
complexions, with pink cheeks. The doctor has 
both. You like a well-shaped mouth. The 
doctor has it. You like ” 

“ His voice is — fetching,” put in Micky. 
“ To be frank with you, Hortense, I don’t 
know of any one who — who ” 

“ Fascinates you so completely,” filled in 
Hortense. 

“ Well, um — yes.” 

Miss Randall laughed outright. 

“What causes your hilarity?” Mickv 
asked. 

“ Micky,” the other began, “ since I have 
known you you have said and done some very 
funny things. But this is the funniest ever.” 

“ What?” 

“ Your being so serious, and upon such a 
subject,” replied Hortense, and she began to 
laugh again. 

“ I am glad to find that the situation pleases 
you,” Micky went on, serenely. “ As for 
the — the doctor ” 


70 The Quest for the Empress. 

“ He wants to meet you/’ interrupted Hor- 
tense. “ He thinks you somebody grand.” 

“ Don’t I look it ? ” asked Micky, rising and 
posing artistically before her friend. ‘‘ Say, 
don’t I look it ? ” 

“ You look a great many things that you are 
not,” replied Hortense. 

“ And you say a great many things that 
other people dare not,” said Micky. 

“ I’m going to say just one more,” declared 
Miss Randall, “ and it is this : some young man 
ought to get hold of you and make you dance 
to his music. It’s about time you stopped lac- 
erating hearts so promiscuously.” 

‘‘Would you rather have me gouge out 
eyes ? ” Micky asked. “ Or claw cheeks ? Or 
crush out brains ? ” 

“ No,” answered Hortense ; “ but I would 
like to have you consent to the doctor’s calling 
upon you. Will you? ” 

“ You plead beautifully, dear,” her friend 
said, “ almost as artistically as you eat an 
orange. But ” 

The electric bell tinkled, and a moment later 
a servant announced two gentlemen to see Miss 
Randall. 

“ And in my own home,” broke out Micky. 
‘ This is scandalous.” 

“ Show them in,” Hortense said, her face 
lighting up. 


An Unexpected Meeting. • 71 

I object,” Micky began. “ I am mistress 
here.” 

“ Show them in,” repeated Hortense. 

The servant retreated. Micky stood in si- 
lence for a moment. “ It’s a trap,” she then 
said. “ Hortense, you base, wicked, monstrous 
jade, you — you ” 

“ Ah, Gerald,” Hortense exclaimed. 

Micky, allow me to present. Dr. Hamilton. 
Dr. Hamilton, Miss Romer.” 

Hamilton caught at Whitney’s arm. He 
gulped down the words that were at the tip of 
his tongue. 

“ I met the doctor at the corner,” Gerald ex- 
plained. “ I induced him to come with me. I 
had first called at your home, Hortense, but 
was told you were here. My friend, the doc- 
tor ” 

“ I believe I recognize in Miss Romer,” 
Hamilton was saying, a former patient — my 
first one.” 

Micky writhed in her chair. 

“ Previous to that,” the doctor went on, I 
had the intense joy of having a confab with the 
damsel in a public park.” 

This is my home, sir,” said Micky. “ I 
object to your calling me a damsel.” 

“We have been playing a hide-and-seek 
game for some time,” he resumed, calmly. 
“ At last I find myself in the lair of the tigress. 
The situation is doubly serious, since I also find 


72 The Quest for the Empress. 

myself among conspirators/’ turning first to 
Hortense, who sat with a faint smile upon her 
face, then to Gerald Whitney, whose face bore 
an expression difficult to decipher. I believe 
I now find myself face to face with the Em- 
press.” 

I'he doctor looked triumphantly at his audi- 
ence. Micky smiled, Hortense grinned, and 
Whitney laughed aloud. 

I am sorry to disillusion you,” Micky said. 
“ I am not the person for whom you take me. 
I refuse to be a potentate and wear a crown, 
even for your sake.” 

“ So this is the — the being of whom you 
have been telling me? ” Whitney said. ‘‘ This 
is the divinity you have placed upon a pedestal 
and worshiped? This is the creature whose 
charms have kept you awake at night, and 
made you talk in your dreams ? This is the — 
the ” 

“ Oh, let up,” interrupted Hamilton. 
“ Bring the farce to an end. Acknowledge 
that Miss Romer is the lady — the Empress.” 

Are you?” Whitney asked, turning to 
Micky. 

“ Decidedly not,” was her quick reply. “ li 
Doctor Hamilton wishes to find the fair being 
whom he appears to worship, let him seek else- 
where. I, for one — — But where are you 
going?” 


An Unexpected Meeting. 73 

Hortense and Gerald had moved toward the 
door. 

Hamilton looked from Micky to the retreat- 
ing figures, took up his hat with the intention 
of following them, when the group began to 
talk, all at once. The result was chaos, to 
which must be added, on the part of Hamilton, 
a spirit of stupefaction. A moment later the 
portiere fell to back of Hortense and Gerald, 
and Hamilton, fumbling his hat, found him- 
self staring at a tall, graceful figure. 

‘‘Well?” he said. 

“ Well ? ” repeated Micky. 

“They’ve gone,” he went on. “I — I — 
didn’t want to go with them.” 

“ And it would have been unladylike to 
throw you out,” said Micky. 

“ Do you feel that way about it? ” he asked. 

“ Please do not ask me to express my feel- 
ings,” answered Micky. “ It is an act in 
which I seldom indulge — that is, when I can es- 
cape otherwise. One can feel, you know, with 
clenched fists ; while to express would necessi- 
tate the raising of the obstreperous member, 
followed by a flourish or two, with a ‘ biff ’ as 
a fitting climax. No; I’ll not express my feel- 
ings, but will ask you to resume your seat, and 
we’ll make the best of the situation.” 

“ Which threatens to be the worst,” fitted 
in the doctor. 

“ Don’t ask me to look so far ahead as th^ 


74 The Quest for the Empress. 

termination of your visit here,” said Micky. 
“ ' Coming events cast their shadows before 
them,’ they say; but very often the events stalk 
in backwards, and you can’t see the shadows. 
But really, you’ll wear out the binding on your 
hat if you do not lay it aside. You appear to 
be a trifle nervous. What’s the use? Since 
you don’t want to go, and I — I don’t want to 
throw you out, please seat yjburself, and ex- 
pound to me the theory of the Empress. It is 
the only thing I have against you now. I 
do not like hallucinations.” 

Then Hamilton began his tale. It was told 
tersely. There were spasmodic moments when 
the doctor flew off into flowery language, at 
which Micky felt intensely like smiling but 
wisely swallowed her glee, and the narrative 
went on uninterrupted. “ You don’t know 
what an influence this lady has exerted upon 
me,” Hamilton said, as he drew to a close. 
“ Why, that morning in Denver I was ready 
to throw up everything, when the mere knowl- 
edge that somebody — a woman — was taking 
an interest in my welfare, roused me back to 
my duty. Jove, how I worked over those ex- 
ams ! And all for her. It was a turning point 
in my career, a point, which one way meant 
success, the other defeat forever. If I had not 
tried those exams, I would have cast the study 
of medicine to the winds* And now perhaps I 


An Unexpected Meeting. 75 

might be sweeping a cross-walk or carrying 
in coal. Instead, I am — I am ” 

Micky looked up naively. “ What ? ” she 
asked. 

“ I am talking to — to Tell me that 

you are the Empress,” he ended. 

I am very sorry,” Micky said, “ that I am 
unable to accommodate you. No, I am not 
the — the Empress.” 

The doctor sighed. 

“ But I think I can help you,” she went on. 

I can try to aid you in your quest. Perhaps 
together we can find her.” 

Blair Plamilton raised his eyes to hers. “If 
you are not the Empress,” he said, “ then I do 
not care to find her.” 

Micky was quick to apprehend his meaning. 
Usually glib, she now found herself unable to 
utter a word. She had a trite phrase upon her 
lips, but Hamilton’s gravity kept her from giv- 
ing sound to it. 

“ Gerald refuses to reveal the identity of 
the person,” the doctor continued. “ He says 
he must first win her consent to do so. That 
appears to be a severe task. Why she should 
wish to so completely evade me is a great mys- 
tery.” 

“ Has Mr. Whitney never given you a de- 
scription of her? ” Micky asked. 

“ A very brief one, if it might be called one 
at all,” replied Hamilton. 


76 The Quest for the Empress. 

And how did you come to single me out as 
the individual' for whom you were searching ? '' 
she asked. 

‘‘ From the first time I saw you I wanted you 
to be the — the Empress/’ he answered. “ And, 
after all, why can’t you be ? ” 

Dr. Hamilton,” she began, with dignity, 
“ I am myself. I refuse absolutely to be some- 
body else. Understand this for once and all.” 

” Pardon me, Lady Macbeth. You now 
look exactly as you did that day in the park. 
Your eyes have the same brilliance that they 
had in my office the day I treated one of them.” 

“ If you think you can make me rant and 
fume by referring to these incidents,” she said, 
you are wrong. They stand out clearly as 
points of my life when I baffled a man who 
thought himself clever in no small degree. 
Besides, I couldnt quarrel with you to-day if I 
wanted to. I am in no mood for it.” 

Would it be too much to hold that my pres- 
ence is accountable for your excellent humor? ” 
he asked. 

Micky did not reply. “If that came from 
anybody else, I would teach the person a les- 
son,” thought Micky. “ Why can’t I spit out 
fire at him ? ” 

Blair Hamilton had no cause to lament his 
afternoon’s venture with Micky. To be sure, 
when he entered her home he had no idea of 
the surprise that was in store for him. Even 


An Unexpected Meeting. 


77 


after the recognition things looked dark. But, 
taken altogether, the events certainly consti- 
tuted a triumph for the doctor. He was not 
obliged to over-exert himself, nor did he suf- 
fer much from the darts Micky had shot at 
him. There was something wonderfully mag- 
netic about Hamilton, something that gained 
for him admirers not only of the opposite sex 
but of his own as well. Micky tried to rebel 
against this peculiar force, but she was unable 
to hold out. It was the first time in her exist- 
ence that she had seen a man of whom she felt 
in awe. 


78 The Quest for the Empress. 


CHAPTER X. 

A VOICE FROM THE WEST. 

That evening Hamilton not only flapped his 
wings, but crowed vociferously. He had 
never before been in such exuberant spirits. 
He lighted all the gas jets in his room, set a 
music-box going — did a hundred-and-one 
things for which he could give no definite rea- 
son. At last he threw himself down upon the 
bed, and opened a letter that had been await- 
ing him upon his return. It came from his 
friend Perry, and brought back the Denver 
days. He recalled Perry’s coming into his 
room that night, under the influence of liquor ; 
recalled the strenuous measures he had used to 
rouse him to a knowledge of his weakness ; re- 
called his meeting with Perry on his journey 
eastward, and then Perry’s meeting with Miss 
Courtney. 

The letter Hamilton now held in his hand 
was filled with this same Miss Courtney. 
Perry tried hard to say something of other 
subjects, but Miss Courtney simply persisted in 
stalking upon the scene. Hamilton started to 


A Voice from the West. 


79 


count the number of times her name was men- 
tioned, laughing to himself as he went along. 
“ Well,” he mused, sobering, “ I suppose I’d do 
the same thing now. It does beat all.” 

“ Have you come across her royal nibs 
yet?” Perry wrote. “You told me in your 
last that you were upon her track. I hope you 
have succeeded in your quest. If not, don’t 
give up. A good woman is worth striving 
for.” 

Hamilton smiled at this bit of advice. Then 
he read more of the letter, in which Perry told 
of his having opened up an office, and of his 
bright outlook for success. At the end. Miss 
Courtney was again ushered in. Perry stating 
that their honeymoon trip would be eastward, 
with Hamilton’s native town as a destination. 
The postscript lifted the doctor nearer to para- 
dise than he already was. Perry had throttled 
his great taste for liquor. 

Hamilton laid the letter aside, and was 
watching the smoke curl up from his cigar, 
when the door of his room was suddenly 
opened and Gerald Whitney came in. 

“ The folks told me to come up — that you 
were alone. Plow are you, Blair ? ” he asked. 

“ Well,” the latter began, “ if I improve any 
I shall soar through the ceiling. Pm several 
feet from the floor now. But how are you ? ” 

“ I think we are about on the same level,” 


8o The Quest for the Empress. 

was the reply. ‘‘ I came to tell you that I have 
found a publisher.’' 

‘‘For that Empress story?” Hamilton 
asked. 

“ Yes.” 

“ Shake, old chum,” and in an instant the 
two were standing face to face, their hands 
clasped firmly together. 

“ You deserve success,” the doctor contin- 
ued, “ and you’ll get it. That’s my prophecy. 
When your book appears watch out for a stir 
in literary circles. You ” 

“ But what puts you in so hilarious a 
mood?” Gerald asked. “You appear to be 
bubbling over.” 

“ Sit down and gloat with me,” the doctor 
said. 

“ But what’s it all about? ” 

“ Don’t be dense. Chum. What could it be 
about? There is but one thing.” 

“ Micky?” 

“ Micky it is.” 

“ Then you got through all right, Blair ? ” 

“ Even better than that,” said the doctor. 

“ You don’t mean to tell me ? ” 

“ Certainly not. What happened this after- 
noon is my own property. Gloat with me. 
Chum.” 

“ I have felicities of my own,” said Whit- 
ney. 

“ And friend Perry from the West dropped 


A Voice from the West. 


8i 


a spoonful of nectar into my already overflow- 
ing cup,” came from the doctor’s lips as he rose 
and began to walk back and forth. “ He’s re- 
formed, and he’s — he’s in love. I wish he were 
here to-night. We’d all join hands, and sing 
pagans.” 


82 The Quest for the Empress. 


CHAPTER XL 

THE PROPOSAL. 

It was toward the close of a gloomy, fitful 
April clay, and Blair Hamilton, M. D., en- 
sconced in a ponderous armchair, was looking 
out of the window at the rain pattering against 
the panes. The immediate surroundings were 
conducive to the look of geniality that sat upon 
his young and pleasing countenance. For the 
doctor had prospered, and his home now 
showed the results of his prosperity. Every- 
thing was in the pink of condition. 

Sister Nan did not get Gerald,” he mused; 
but she is married to a noble chap. Mother 
needs a companion. Now if I could muster up 

courage enough to 1 wonder how a fellow 

goes about such things? There’s Chum, now. 
He’s popped already. I might ask how he 
went at it. But he is so different from my 
humble self. Then Hortense is different too 
from — from Micky. Gerald could kneel be- 
fore Miss Randall, and say : ‘ Hortense, I 
adore you. Will you be my wife? ’ and there 


The Proposal. 


83 


would be nothing ludicrous about it. But if I 
should do the same to Micky — Lordy, what a 
scene ! It would throw her into convulsions of 
laughter. I would never hear the last of it. 
‘ Micky, I adore you. Will you be my wife? ’ 
That's altogether too conventional for her bo- 
hemian tastes. While if I used some less pre- 
tentious statement, she would regard it as being 
hackneyed, and my reputation for being orig- 
inal would be humbled to the dust. Gad, 
what's more horrible than to have a desire to 
do a thing, and not know how to go at it? 

If I had ever proposed before " 

This thought brought him back to the Em- 
press again. “ And where is she now ? Some- 
where on this wide universe she stalks about 
majestically. Gerald might have explained the 
mystery. But he's peculiar ; what he says goes. 
No amount of pleading will induce him to 
break a promise. He knows that I am going 
to propose to Micky to-night. I told him that 
a week ago. He had ample time to inform the 
Empress. If she cared at all, she might have 
intervened by now. Taking a mere interest in 
a chap is, after all, totally different from lov- 
ing him. Gerald said she took an interest in 
me. Well, to-night she — I was going to say 
she fades from my memory forever. But that 
cannot be. She has done so much for me, in- 
fluenced my life so greatly, guided, guarded 
me, that I feel it my duty to worship at her 


84 The Quest for the Empress. 

shrine once in a while. No, I shall never for- 
get what she has done for me.” 

He clasped his hands back of his head, and 
sighed. 

“ I feel as if I ought to thank her,” he 
further soliloquized. ” I have reaped such a 
harvest through her. Well, since Gerald won’t 
tell, and I can’t find out, I shall have to let it go. 
If I ever come across her after — after Micky 

There’s nothing wrong in a married 

man’s expressing thanks to a woman who has 
done much for him,” he finished, and with this 
thought in his mind, he rose abruptly and 
walked whistling out of the room. 

When he was admitted into Micky’s presence 
that evening there was a look upon his face 
that had never before been th^^e. Was it that 
the eyes were brighter? or that the lip^ were 
curved into a more tempting smile? Had the 
doctor administered unto himself some secret 
potion that threw into his countenance the 
pleasing look that lurked there? 

For a time Micky and Blair indulged in a 
friendly battle, hurling at each other remarks 
which were brief but pointed. Then they 
swayed off into a sentimental mood. How 
Blair Hamilton, M. D., worked up to the great 
question that had been uppermost in his mind 
from the time he entered the house, he could 
never tell. He had watched Micky’s face 
closely, had looked for even the vestige of a 


The Proposal. 


85 


smile that would tell his words were falling 
upon ludicrous soil. But no smile curved the 
lips, no mischievous twinkle danced in the 
limpid eyes. It was a new Micky who sat be- 
side him, a Micky cultured enough to know the 
importance of the moment. 

“ But what of the — the Empress ? ’’ she 
finally asked, raising her eyes to Hamilton’s. 

“ The Empress ? ” he repeated, vaguely. 
‘‘ Oh.” 

For a moment there was silence. 

She has done so much for you,” Micky 
went on. 

‘‘ Yes, she certainly has,” he said, ruminat- 
ingly. 

‘‘ And you really care so much for me, de- 
spite the Empress ? ” Micky asked. 

You are more to me than any other wo- 
man ever will be,” the doctor said. “ Can’t 
you say yes to-night — now ? ” 

The sudden ringing of the electric bell came 
almost like a shock to them. There was a mo- 
ment’s silence, then the opening and closing of 
the front door. A maid’s startled countenance 
appeared to Micky and Blair, and through the 
doorway she announced some one to see Dr. 
Hamilton. The next instant the visitor rude- 
ly thrust the maid aside, and walking up to the 
doctor, said: 

You are to hurry to the hospital. Dr. 


86 The Quest for the Empress. 


Anglor has decided that you are to operate at 
once on that case of his.” 

“The one in No. 14?” Hamilton asked, 
excitedly. 

“ Yes.” 

“ Good God ! ’’ cried the doctor. “ It will 
be death on the table. Why doesn’t Ang- 
lor do it himself? ” 

“ Indisposed, he says,” was the reply. “ He 
doesn’t go out nights, you know.” 

“ Which is only another way of putting 
murder on the hands of some one else,” ex- 
claimed Hamilton. “ That’s what it amounts 
to — murder. I say let the man die in peace.” 

“ Come, come,” the other said. “ There is 
no time to be lost.” 

“ It’s a scurvy trick,” Blair declared. “ Old 
Anglor wants informaton, but he prefers not to 
wallow in gore. He thirsts for notoriety, 
which he will in this case take to himself — 
that is, if it is the right kind. I’ve had dealings 
with these old codgers before. Go tell Anglor 
to cast his indisposition to the winds, forget 
the idea that he doesn’t go out nights, and me- 
ander down to the joint and flourish the knife 
himself. I’m too busy; I’m ” 

He looked at Micky, who, with hands 
clasped, had risen and now stood before him. 
“ Go, Blair, please,” she said. “ The man’s life 
may be spared. I have more faith in you than 


The Proposal. 87 

I have in — Dr. Anglor. I -want you to go 
Blair/^ 

“ ril be at the hospital in ten minutes.” 
The man hurried out of the room. Micky 
followed Hamilton to the door. “ Before I 
go,” he said, “I want to hear that word from 
your lips.” 

It came in a whisper. 

Now my whole soul goes into the work 
before me.” 

With this he hurried down the steps. 
Micky watched until he waved his hand under 
a friendly gas lamp at the corner. 


88 The Quest for the Empress. 


CHAPTER XIL 

THE OPERATION. 

'' It is all right for Anglor to call it luck. 
But I know better ; I was there. It was dex- 
terity, that’s what it was. Hamilton did a 
wonderful piece of work.” 

The speaker tilted his chair back, and ran 
his eyes over the group of colleagues in the 
house staff’s office of the hospital. I tell you, 
fellows, it was a slick job.” 

Then he went into details. He talked for 
half an hour, at the end of which time his 
listeners still held the positions they had as- 
sumed at the beginning of his narrative. 
Their faces told the interest that held them. 

When Dr. Anglor came into the room they 
looked at him coldly. Some drew up their 
lips in scorn. 

“ I happened to overhear the trend of your 
conversation as I came in,” the veteran began, 
smilingly. “ I am pleased to hear that you 
take so great an interest in young Hamilton 
and the remarkable feat you appear to think 

LofC. 


The Operation. 89 

he has performed. Each of you gentleman 
might have been equally successful.” 

He waited to see what effect this sweetened 
information would have upon them. Their 
f'tces did not relax. 

He continued to talk. Out of respect, those 
assembled about him listened. Meeting with 
no encouragement to continue the subject, 
Anglor drifted off into other channels, final- 
ly taking his leave amid an atmosphere bor- 
dering on extreme frigidity. 

With the assistance of his friend, Whitney, 
who was fast winning a reputation as a writer, 
Hamilton wrote up the operation, publication 
of which was secured in the leading medical 
journal of the country. It was copied by 
similar journals in London, Vienna, and Ber- 
lin, after which the name of Blair Hamilton 
was placed well up on the list of physicians 
renowned for surgical skill. 


90 The Quest for the Empress. 


CHAPTER XIIL 

GOD BLESS her/"’ 

But the lady who fainted,” Hamilton was 
saying, looking out of the window at the tum- 
ble-down negro huts that whizzed by as the 
train dashed along ; who was she ? ” 

Gerald Whitney folded his arms, and com- 
pressed his lips. 

“ It was the one thing that marred the per- 
formance,” the doctor went on. “ Double 
weddings are great, eh. Chum? We have al- 
ways been such great friends that it seemed 
the most natural thing in the world to be to- 
gether at a moment the most auspicious in 
our lives. And then for Perry to be there 
with his bride! And now to find the three 
of us together on our wedding journeys, with 
faithful Seymour and his bride in sight at our 
destination! It’s great. Chum, it’s great. I 
say. Perry,” calling to his friend who sat in a 
corner writing, “ hustle up. Don’t keep the 
ladies waiting. They must be hungry.” 

Then turning to Whitney, Hamilton went 
on : Chum, you’re glum all of a sudden. 


“ God Bless Her. 


91 


iWhat’s up? Are you worried about the lady 
yvho fainted ? Come, tell me who she is ? An 
old flame of yours? 

“ No, not of mine,” Whitney said ; “ but of 
somebody I know very well.” 

‘‘Was it the — the Empress?” Hamilton 
asked, half jokingly, half seriously. 

“ It was the Empress.” 

Hamilton started. His friend winced. 

“ You knew she was going to be there — at 
the church ? ” the doctor asked. 

“ Yes.” 

“ You might have told me that much,” 
Blair said, his brow furrowing. “ Since she 
evaded me all this time, why did she appear 
there ? ” 

“ She wanted a final look at you,” answered 
Gerald. 

“ Are you serious? ” 

“ I was never more so in all my life,” and 
Whitney looked the doctor squarely in the 
eyes. She loves you, Blair.” 

“ Why did you not tell me this before ? ” 
asked the doctor. 

“ I agreed not to until I had received her 
consent to do so.’ 

“ And she has now given it ? ” 

“ Yes.” 

“ Why of all times now ? ” 

“ Because she prefers to do so. You are 
both bound.” 


92 The Quest for the Empress. 

“ What do you mean ? ’’ 

‘‘ The Empress is already a wife/' said 
Whitney. 

The words threw Hamilton into a con- 
templative mood. 

“ And that is why she has evaded me? " he 
asked. 

“ That is why she has evaded you, and that 
is why she will continue to evade you. You'll 
never know what she has suffered.” 

But we’ll meet some time — she and I ? " 

‘‘You may meet,” replied Gerald, “but 
you’ll never know who she is until — un- 
til ” 

“ Until ? ” repeated the doctor. 

“ Perhaps when you are both free again.” 

During the interval of silence that followed 
Perry called from the corner where he was 
writing, that he had finished, and would join 
them directly. 

“ Before we go. Chum,” the doctor said, 

“ tell me how it is you happen to know so 
much about the Empress? Was your heart 
ever moved in that direction ? ” 

“ A man may think a great deal of a girl, 
but not necessarily love her,” Whitney said. 

“ A man has man friends ; why shouldn’t he \ 
have woman friends ? I have always regarded 
the Empress in that light, and I shall continue 
to do so/' 


They were silent for a time. Then Whitney 
said : 

‘‘ But Fm glad I mentioned her to you in 
the letter I wrote while you were at Denver.’' 

“ In one way I’m not glad,” said the doc- 
tor. But I have much to thank you for, 
Chum. Everything would have been different 
without the — the Empress. It was she who 
gave me hope — life. It was she who made 
possible for me the reputation I now hold. 
God bless her.” 

A slap upon the back roused him, and a sim- 
ilar greeting was bestowed on Whitney. Rais- 
ing their eyes, they saw Perry standing before 
them. “ What’s up ? ” he asked. '' The cor- 
ners of your mouths almost meet on your 
chins. Forget your troubles, and let us join 
the ladies. I’m famished.” 

“ So are we,” came in a chorus as three 
smiling countenances peered through the door- 
way. 

A moment later they were all seated in the 
dining car. 










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